[NU Sports] Football Rule changes for 2012

[Jonathan Hodges]

Regarding the helmet being removed by an opponent: that would be a penalty
on the opponent and the one play out of game rule would not apply.

It is unclear, though, how exactly they would enforce the part of the rule
that a player whose helmet has come off must stop participating in the play
(think of Dan Persa on the fourth down play against Michigan this past
season).

Here were the initial proposals (note that the only one not adopted was
additional protection for the return man on kicks):
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/resources/latest+news/2012/february/committee+recommends+several+football+rules+proposals+to+enhance+safety

Also, just to head off any further questions, the touchback to the 25 yard
line is ONLY on free kicks (kickoffs & post-safety kicks), not punts into
the end zone / fumbles into/through an opponent's end zone / interceptions
or fumbles recovered in one's own end zone / etc.  It will be interesting
to see if this, in fact, ends up having more teams kickoff short of the
goal line to force returns to try and pin them inside the 25.  Also, it
makes a shorter "pooch" kick and onside try more enticing due to that
additional 5 yards.  Though it also restricts the kicking team from lining
up further back than 5 yards, I am really not sure that will make a huge
difference.

Jonathan

--
Jonathan Hodges
Contributor, HailToPurple
Web: http://www.hailtopurple.com/jhodges/
Twitter: @hailtopurple
Email: j-hodges at alumni.northwestern.edu



On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 2:54 PM, Mike Nolan <nolan at tssi.com> wrote:

> The NCAA will join the NFL in in 2012 in moving kickoffs from the 30 to
> the 35 yard line.
>
> However, the NCAA will also move touchbacks to the 25 instead of the 20.
> ESPN says is suppposed to  encourage more touchbacks.  That may be true for
> the receiving team, but if that affects field goals as well as kickoffs,
> it isn't clear how that will affect kicking team decision making.
>
> A rule I have favored for a while has also been passed.  A player whose
> helmet comes off during a play must leave the game for one play.
>
> I wonder if that will apply to plays where the helmet is ripped off
> by a defender?
>
> There are also new rules on blocking below the waist and on punt
> returns.  Also, players cannot leap over blockers when trying
> to block punts.
>
> Spring and fall drills will have to deal with these rule changes a
> lot, I suspect.  (For officials, too.)
>
> See
> http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7611324/ncaa-moves-kickoffs-30-yard-line-35
> --
> Mike Nolan
>
> _______________________________________________
> nwu-sports site list
> nwu-sports at tssi.com
> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
>